Evans (The Tower, not reviewed, etc.) adds to his successful string of sentimental Christmas stories with this longer one of a young boy named Alexander whose kindness to a stranger results in a special honor. The setting is the mythical walled village of Noel, which has a tradition of a huge brass torch that burns each Christmas next to the decorated town tree. This year an additional holiday feature has been announced, with a contest of Christmas gift offerings to determine who will light the flame. On his way to the holiday celebration, Alexander helps an elderly man who has collapsed in the snow outside the city. This man turns out to be the Keeper of the Flame, who declares Alexander’s gift (the offering of kind aid to a stranger) the winner of the contest. The clearly stated lesson is that kind actions toward others supercede the importance of material gifts; other interpretations include Christian symbolism and the parable of the Good Samaritan. In his first work for children, Craig offers realistic, digitally produced illustrations of the snowy village and its inhabitants dressed in old-fashioned garb, all glowing with candlelight, starlight, and the torch’s flame. His illustrations show the Keeper of the Flame as a striking fellow with a huge white beard and flowing robes: part Moses, part God, part saint, part Santa. Some will find this a saccharine story; his audience will see a parable of faith, hope, and charity. Predictable Evans with predictable results. (Picture book. 6-9)
Pub Date: Oct. 1, 2002
ISBN: 0-689-83468-3
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 2002
BOOK REVIEW
The leaves have changed, Thanksgiving nears—and the canny turkeys of Squawk Valley have decamped, leaving local residents to face the prospect of a birdless holiday. What to do? They decide to lure a bird back by appealing to its vanity, placing a want ad for a model to help sculptors creating turkey art, then “inviting” the bird to dinner. The ploy works, too, for out of the woods struts plump and perky Pete to take on the job. Shelly debuts with brightly hued cartoon scenes featuring pop-eyed country folk and deceptively silly-looking gobblers. Pete may be vain, but he hasn’t lost the wiliness of his wild ancestors; when the townsfolk come for him, he hides amidst a flock of sculpted gobblers—“There were turkeys made of spuds, / there were turkeys made of rope. / There were turkeys made of paper, / there were turkeys made of soap. / The room was full of turkeys / in a wall to wall collage. / For a clever bird like Pete / it was perfect camouflage.” He makes his escape, and is last seen lounging on a turkey-filled tropical beach as the disappointed Squawk Valleyites gather round the table for a main course of . . . shredded wheat. Good for a few giggles. (Picture book. 6-8)
Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2001
ISBN: 1-890817-91-0
Page Count: 40
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 2001
Miranda’s book counts the monsters gathering at a birthday party, while a simple rhyming text keeps the tally and surveys the action: “Seven starved monsters are licking the dishes./Eight blow out candles and make birthday wishes.” The counting proceeds to ten, then by tens to fifty, then gradually returns to one, which makes the monster’s mother, a purple pin-headed octopus, very happy. The book is surprisingly effective due to Powell’s artwork; the color has texture and density, as if it were poured onto the page, but the real attention-getter is the singularity of every monster attendee. They are highly individual and, therefore, eminently countable. As the numbers start crawling upward, it is both fun and a challenge to try to recognize monsters who have appeared in previous pages, or to attempt to stay focused when counting the swirling or bunched creatures. The story has glints of humor, and in combination with the illustrations is a grand addition to the counting shelf. (Picture book. 3-8)
Pub Date: Aug. 1, 1999
ISBN: 0-15-201835-2
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Harcourt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 1999
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